IRG 2: Polymeric Ionic Liquids

Elucidating fundamental design principles connecting molecular architecture and charge physics with material properties in polymeric ionic liquids has the potential to revolutionize diverse applications including electrochemical membranes and soft robotics. IRG-2 aims to understand how materials that incorporate delocalized ionic groups onto or within a low dielectric backbone self-assemble and how charge moves through these structures. The team will further impart functional properties such as photochromism, multivalent ion conductivity, redox activity, magnetism, and reconfigurability through design and exchange of ions.